NEWARK, DE – Xander Rice netted 24 points to lead all scorers and Monmouth University Men's Basketball battled to the final horn before being narrowly held off by the University of Delaware Saturday, 84-80.
 
It took Monmouth less than three minutes into the second half to get even, with the Hawks taking the lead at 16:34 on Jack Collins' turnaround triple. Down two, Jayden Doyle made his second three of the season to put Monmouth on top. The home team used an 8-0 run to take the lead, but Monmouth continued to fight, with a triple and three free throws from Rice getting it down to three. After a missed free throw, Rice had a look from three to tie that was just off, and Delaware ultimately held on, 84-80.
 
A competitive first half saw Delaware's lead grow as large as six, but an immediate 6-0 run from the Hawks got things back even. The Blue Hens regained the six-point lead, but Rice went coast-to-coast as time expired to send it to the half at 42-38.

NOTES AND QUOTES

"Give Delaware all the credit. Really good college basketball game, they made a few more plays than us. We played hard." – Head Coach King Rice
 
-Xander Rice recorded his 400^th career assist, making him one of 26 active Division I players with 1,500 points and 400 assists.
-Cornelius Robinson Jr. tied his career high with nine points.
-MU tied a season high with 19 assists.
-Jayden Doyle posted a season best five points.
-Doyle knocked in his first three since 11/24 against Belmont.
-Nikita Konstantynovskyi scored in doubles for the ninth time this year.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth was better in the paint, 38-34.
-MU had 19 assists to Delaware's 15.
-There were nine ties and 11 lead changes.
 
UP NEXT
-Monmouth returns home Thursday to take on William & Mary. Tip is at 7:00 p.m. on SNY and NBC Sports Philadelphia. Tickets are available at MonmouthHawks.com/Tickets.